Description

A 90-minute performance documentary on the life and accomplishments of the legendary Les Paul. A true inventor, Paul was father of the solid-body electric guitar, inventor of overdubbing and multi-track recording, king of the ‘50s pop charts, and architect of rock ‘n’ roll. In addition Les Paul's connection with the AES dates back to its inception. This film was produced in High Definition by John Paulson Productions, LLC, Icon Television Music, and WNET/Thirteen American Masters.

After the film, the panelists will be interviewed on artistic and technical details of how this project came into being, after which a limited number of questions will be taken from the audience. This will be recorded for possible use as a podcast for AES members.

John R. Paulson has been creating, producing, and directing films for more than twenty years and is owner and president of John Paulson Productions, which produces award-winning documentary programming in history and the arts for broadcast television, museum exhibition, and home video.
Recently he developed and produced LES PAUL – CHASING SOUND! for PBS/American Masters on the legendary guitarist and inventor. The film was nominated for a Primetime EMMY award, and is the recipient of the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for “Best Music Documentary in Broadcast Television,” which is among the music industry’s highest honors. It is now in worldwide distribution on television and home video. His acclaimed film on Woody Guthrie was a central feature of 3-year exhibition that toured the country.
Paulson is a member of the Director’s Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. For 13 years Paulson was a filmmaker at the Smithsonian Institution where he produced a steady stream of programs on history, culture, and the arts and his work has been recognized with: the Silver Telly Award; The Silver Hugo Award from the Chicago International Film Festival; the Gold Medal from the Park City Film Music Festival; the Silver MUSE Award from the American Association of Museums; the Gold CINDY Award; the New York Festivals; the Award of Commendation from the Society for Visual Anthropology; the CINE Golden Eagle; and the Gold and Silver Medals for Outstanding Technical Achievement from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

James Arntz is an award-winning producer/writer of PBS music programming. Recent productions include Liza’s at the Palace (2009), 3 Mo’ Divas (2008) and Les Paul – Chasing Sound (2007). His performance-documentary about klezmer music, Itzhak Perlman: In the Fiddler's House, received a 1996 Primetime Emmy and the Rose d’Or (grand prize) at the Montreux Festival. Other award-winners include Going Home to Gospel with Patti LaBelle, Classic Yo-Yo Ma, The Real McTeague (new opera with Robert Altman) and Piano Grand!, a Smithsonian Institution gala hosted by Billy Joel.

Address

Pearson Theatre
Meyer Sound
2837 10th Street
Berkeley, CA 94702

Theatre entrance is around the corner from the main entrance on San Pablo Avenue
See parking map >>>

Directions

From San Francisco and the Peninsula
Take the Bay Bridge. On the Oakland side, merge LEFT to take the I-80 EAST ramp.
Take the CA-13/ASHBY AVE/BAY STREET exit.
Keep LEFT at the fork in the ramp, this becomes ASHBY AVE.
Follow ASHBY AVE. to the 2nd Traffic Light.
Turn LEFT onto SAN PABLO AVE.
We are on the left side of San Pablo Ave.
The first block on your left side is HEINZ AVE, turn left and pull into the guest parking lot (second parking lot on the right).
From the guest parking lot, walk down Heinz Ave., turn right on 10th St. and walk approximately 30 feet.

From Points North Along I-80 and I-580
Take I-580 E./I-80 W. to UNIVERSITY AVE exit towards BERKELEY.
Keep RIGHT at the fork in the ramp which merges onto UNIVERSITY AVE.
Follow UNIVERSITY AVE. to the 3rd Traffic Light.
Turn RIGHT onto SAN PABLO AVE.
Follow SAN PABLO AVE. approximately one mile to 2832 San Pablo Ave.
We are on the right side of San Pablo Ave. just before Heinz Ave.
Turn right onto HEINZ AVE and pull into the guest parking lot (second parking lot on the right).
From the guest parking lot, walk down Heinz Ave., turn right on 10th St. and walk approximately 30 feet.

From the Caldecott Tunnel and EAST
Take 24 W. through the Caldecott Tunnel.
Stay on the right lane of the Tunnel.
Take the FIRST EXIT on the right towards BERKELEY/TUNNEL ROAD.
TUNNEL RD becomes ASHBY AVE.
Follow Ashby Ave. all the way down, approximately 3 miles.
Turn RIGHT onto SAN PABLO AVE.
We are on the left side of San Pablo Ave.
The first block on your left side is HEINZ AVE, turn left and pull into the guest parking lot (second parking lot on the right).
From the guest parking lot, walk down Heinz Ave., turn right on 10th St. and walk approximately 30 feet.

From the Points South along I-880
Take the I-880 NORTH.
Follow signs for Berkeley/San Francisco at the NEW part of the Freeway.
Bear to your right on the FlyOver following signs to BERKELEY.
Merge onto I-580 WEST/I-80 EAST
IMMEDIATELY move to the right lane of the Freeway.
Take the CA-13/ASHBY AVE/SHELLMOUND STREET exit.
Keep LEFT at the fork in the ramp, this becomes ASHBY AVE.
Follow ASHBY AVE. to the 2nd Traffic Light.
Turn LEFT onto SAN PABLO AVE.
We are on the left side of San Pablo Ave.
The first block on your left side is HEINZ AVE, turn left and pull into the guest parking lot (second parking lot on the right).
From the guest parking lot, walk down Heinz Ave., turn right on 10th St. and walk approximately 30 feet.

Parking:

Guest parking lot

1 Meyer Sound Guest Parking Lot on Heinz Ave., between San Pablo Ave. and 10th St.
2 Pearson Theatre Entrance 2837 10th St.  - Please use this entrance.
From the guest parking lot, walk down Heinz Ave., turn right on 10th St. and walk approximately 30 feet.
3 Meyer Sound Employee Parking Lot - Overflow parking.

Street Parking